Todd Palin Issues Statement on Joe Miller E-Mail Flap
Todd Palin issued a statement today:
My family has worked hard in supporting Joe Miller, so when I heard he’d said something less than supportive of my wife’s efforts, I responded. But it turns out we’d gotten our wires crossed and Joe hadn’t said anything like what I’d been told. So there’s no story here except the fact that the press put our personal emails online again, and again couldn’t even be bothered to conceal our email addresses or take any steps to protect our privacy.
I said yesterday that I thought Todd P. had flown off the handle a bit. Looks like he realizes that. Better to check what someone actually said before you lash out at them. It’s a lesson I hope he and his wife will both remember. They have been the victim of attacks based on misinformation so many times. They don’t want to do that to others.
I read Hot Air first this time.
Patterico (c218bd) — 10/6/2010 @ 9:54 pmA wise choice, although I always read you before I read Hot Air.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 10/6/2010 @ 10:21 pmJoe Miller is being smart here. It’s not necessary to make this race about Palin v Murkowski, or a proxy on Palin’s presidential hopes. The time for Joe Miller to stump for Sarah just isn’t these next few weeks.
Right now is the time for the Palins to stump for Joe. As unfair as it is for me to stare into Todd’s private email and judge the poor guy for taking up for his wife, I don’t think he has the right mindset to be a senior adviser for Sarah.
Her endorsements now are a bit less valuable, carrying a scent of a backroom deal.
Anyway, Joe Miller looked awesome in the initial interview, and I think he was just plain unwilling to let it terminate on ‘You’re Palin’s Pet’. He isn’t, and he shouldn’t be, and he wouldn’t win if he were. And I note, Joe hasn’t uttered a syllable critical of Sarah Palin.
I’m guessing the Miller team needs to get its pipes checked. Whoever leaked this has done his candidate damage and doesn’t belong on any campaign. Todd and this Miller staffer (I am making an assumption here) need to learn that you have to pick your battles.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 10/6/2010 @ 10:38 pmIt could be mere gossip but I read Miller has several Huckabee fans on his staff and this leak was deliberate.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 10/6/2010 @ 10:41 pmIt all goes back to Todd, again, if a Huckabee staffer decided to run with this.
Todd knows that Huckabee is heavily involved with a lot of candidates, such as Rubio and Miller, and that there’s a big overlap between his backers and Tea Partiers.
Pressing the issue now, as to who gets the stumping in the primary, was very risky. they should have been very careful about how they communicate their proposed deal (facebook and more in exchange for Miller’s support).
I’ve been curious about this for a while. Some of Palin’s endorsements really annoyed the hell out of me (I’m sure my O’Donnell whining has made that very clear), and a few seem to be given with absolutely no wheeling and dealing.
The huge plus to that is how Palin’s endorsement seemed not to have this arrangement Todd seems to think it had.
I believe nearly all Palin supporters will support Joe Miller, and I also believe Joe will be smart and take advantage of this issue to show he is nobody’s pet. It’s actually almost a trap. Lisa Murkowski is easily goaded on Palin, and if she handles this the wrong way, it could really work out nicely.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 10/6/2010 @ 11:03 pmWell, there is no proof that the Huckabee supporters behind this, so its just speculation at this point.
(Though that will not matter to the diehards at C4P…)
eva3071 (84db6c) — 10/6/2010 @ 11:39 pmSomebody is behind it. It seems they may have sent this to someone who has a very long history of screwing with Sarah Palin, too.
Huck himself isn’t behind it, and it really doesn’t mean anything if one of his supporters is. Miller, and anyone communicating with him, should act under the understanding that someone will leak stuff, even if it harms the Miller campaign effort.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 10/6/2010 @ 11:44 pm“Better to check what someone actually said before you lash out at them. It’s a lesson I hope he and his wife will both remember.”
It stabs hearts. Pls refudiate.
imdw (a544ba) — 10/7/2010 @ 4:59 amThe bigger issue, which is not remarked upon often enough, is that email should have remained confidential, it was part of a back and forth dialog between allied camps, yet someone leaked to the Huff Po, and Devon in particular. Now some of you, I’m not naming names, excuse it by saying you
ian cormac (6709ab) — 10/7/2010 @ 5:23 amcannot be candid in communications, really, do you want to apply that same rules to yourselves
These Palin twits and their endless drama.
They tell us a lot about who we are anymore.
happyfeet (19c1da) — 10/7/2010 @ 5:34 amYou really want to be him, feets;
http://www.frumforum.com/the-first-dudes-temper-tantrum
ian cormac (6709ab) — 10/7/2010 @ 5:44 amThe scent of Huckabee wafts through the room. Reminds me when his team was poaching supporters from Sam Brownback in Iowa. (google Politico and Wasinger)
Vermont Neighbor (157401) — 10/7/2010 @ 6:27 amIt’s called politics, people. Todd actually has a damn good point, and by the way – his old lady is annointing congressfolks like she’s on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel!
sherlock (34a40e) — 10/7/2010 @ 9:19 pm“but for the grace of God go I”, even for those who don’t believe in (a) God.
As others have said above, after all that the Palins have had to put up with and with it being a private conversation, if this is the kind of stuff used against them then I’d say they’re pretty darn clean.
I’d test Miller’s support of Palin by whether he fires the person who leaked it. In fact, I’d test Miller’s worthiness of being thought of as an honest reformer by whether he fires the person- at least if he doesn’t fire the person, there should be a significant and concrete penalty, a cut in pay, forfeit of 2 weeks pay, something that communicates to everyone around him that he wants an organization that has integrity. That begins by not leaking private communications.
MD in Philly (edd1cf) — 10/8/2010 @ 3:03 pmMiller reportedly forwarded Todd’s email to 4 of his staff, which showed arguably poor judgement. But if staff used a campaign provided email, then it shouldn’t be too tough to review the staff emails and see who forwarded this and fire the bastard. I presume the campaign to be the employer here.
smokedaddy (a28cd7) — 10/9/2010 @ 10:37 amwhy should anyone be fired that Palin idiot learned a valuable lesson about not running off half-cocked
happyfeet (19c1da) — 10/9/2010 @ 10:47 amLet’s put in terms you can understand, feets, you’re in a sales presentation with a client, there
ian cormac (6709ab) — 10/9/2010 @ 10:53 amis an objection at the start, which is resolved, yer someone records only the objection, and presents
it as a result, long after you cinched the deal,
Happyfeet,
While it’s good that Palin learned a valuable lesson, and will likely be far more restrained and think twice then thrice in the future, a campaign cannot have a staffer who can’t see what this lack of discretion would cause. Of course, if the staffer’s intent was to hurt the Palins, they should have been smart enough to realize that it would also spin back and hurt Joe Miller.
Either way, a campaign can’t afford indiscretion or stupid on it’s team.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 10/9/2010 @ 10:56 amTodd needs to understand he’s just leaching off his wife’s career anymore and he’s in way over his head
the Miller people did him a favor
happyfeet (19c1da) — 10/9/2010 @ 10:58 amHappyfeet,
The point is the campaign staffer lacked the necessary discretion to be involved in such confidential issues, Joe Miller lacked discretion when he forwarded Palin’s email to four staffers (why even do that? Directly answer Todd Palin and keep his mouth shut. No need to say anything). The staffer should be terminated, and Joe Miller is the one who better have learned his lesson – as well as Palin.
As much as you’d like to just blame Palin for being an idiot, Joe Miller revealed his lack of experience and discretion and he is the one running for office. Time to get serious and tighten it up.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:05 amTodd’s ham-handed embarrassing snafu can only jeopardize Team R’s chances of picking up a seat in Alaska –
after his wife did so much work to lose Team R a seat in Delaware you’d think these Palin clowns might wanna quit while they’re ahead.
happyfeet (19c1da) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:05 amHappyfeet,
It’s disingenuous to not acknowledge that the candidate himself, Joe Miller, screwed up. Do Not Forward Emails should be his hard-learned mantra. Joe Miller possibly jeopardized Team R’s chances of picking up a seat in Alaska.
Let’s let him assume responsibility for his own actions, eh?
Because, Grasshopper, everything in life is not the fault of Sarah and Todd Palin.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:09 amnot yet it isn’t I guess
happyfeet (19c1da) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:12 amNo, not yet. It’s still Bush’s fault.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:13 amAngle, O’Donnell, and Miller all seem to have this inexperience. Something to keep in mind re the TP and the GOP. They need each other but in these heady days of Miller and O’Donnell surprise wins a little leadership from seasoned pros might be appropriate.
VOR2 (c9795e) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:23 amSay… didn’t Palin endorse them? Maybe she is the right person to provide that leadership and mentoring, no?
The Palins had to be reined in on occasion during the 2008 campaign when they insisted on responding to things the McCain team felt were too minor to dignify with a remark. A pattern it would seem based on Todd’s recent mis-fire.
VOR2,
I agree re the collective inexperience of TP candidates.
It seems to me that Todd Palin, who has never been a politician, remains instead a protective husband and father. Even after all the 2008 campaign nastiness and attacks made on the Palin family, his default reaction is one of defensiveness and protector.
And while it is certainly the most admirable of qualities, it’s a bit of a hindrance that he is unable to shift gears, distance himself, not react emotionally, or keep in the forefront of his mind that any response will be used, twisted,and negatively shaped by the media. Which of course, hurts everyone involved. (A small Palin involved reaction immediately reflects on the entire Tea Party, Conservatism, and John Wayne himself)…
If it’s about his family, nothing is minor.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:35 amYep, Dana. Todd should not be a senior campaign guy. He should not have control over which facebook messages are posted, who gets with endorsement, etc.
It’s not like he’d lose access to his wife, as something of an advisor, but he shouldn’t be in charge of their operation’s employees.
Just my opinion, but he bashed a friend without knowing all the facts in a way that tempted fate. The stakes are too high for that. The Miller staffer who did this is probably still laughing. Do they really care that they hurt Miller’s chances? I doubt it. A lot of strivers out there who are more interested in earning points for themselves, and I’m sure he’s earned plenty.
I’d sure love to know his name.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 10/9/2010 @ 11:41 amIt happened in his own bailiwick, it struck me as odd, because subsequent behavior didn’t bear that
ian cormac (6709ab) — 10/9/2010 @ 12:11 pmmessage out. Menawhile they are attacking Miller
up there, for having the temerity of having accepted
govt services, for posting campaign statements late, et al
I understand this Dana but they only hurt Palin’s chances at large by doing so. The pettiness makes me think of Nixon’s enemies list. Not to say she has created an enemies list but the reactions are a little similar. He was involved in the Wooten issue as well and some of the official transcripts show he probably got too involved. The incident at the airport where he got in the face of the guy filming them in a public area is another. SP seemed to handle it fine but he didn’t.
VOR2 (64015b) — 10/9/2010 @ 5:32 pmWhere I get irritated about how some people will react to the coverage of the Palins is that there is an acceptable line for celebrities and politicians as to what is news or what is tabloid. This particular incident fell into the news and would not have happened if Todd had restrained himself.
Some Palin supporters come across sounding as if the Palin’s should have the right to choose which stories they want covered.
But that is just my two cents. There has to be something to polls showing only 29% would vote for her a president. I don’t think I am the only person who sees it this way.
How about stick to the stories that are true, not
ian cormac (6709ab) — 10/9/2010 @ 5:44 pmthird hand rumors purveyed by dubious sources, as with many things, this particular story is only
partially true, it was cleared up by subsequent
events, which the Huff Po didn’t bother to point
out. It is the Palins and the Millers against the Combine, from that diagram linked earlier